Current Affairs Today

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs March 20 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Cabinet Approves Rs 33,660 crore ‘BHAVYA scheme’ to Develop 100 Plug-and-Play Industrial Parks
On March 18, 2026,  the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved Rs 33,660 crore  Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) scheme for developing 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across the country.

• This newly approved scheme aims to develop world-class industrial infrastructure, unlocking manufacturing potential and  driving India’s growth story.

About BHAVYA Scheme:
Implementation: BHAVYA scheme, structured on the success of Industrial Smart Cities developed under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) framework, will be implemented in partnership with states and private sector players.
Project Selection Process: Under the new scheme, projects will be selected through a challenge mode to ensure only high-quality, reform-oriented and investment-readiness  proposals.

• Further, industrial parks ranging from 100 to 1000 acres will be undertaken for development.

Financial Assistance: The Government of India (GoI) will provide up to Rs1 crore per acre for:

• Core infrastructure (internal roads, underground utilities, drainage, common treatment facilities, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and administrative systems)
• Value-added infrastructure (ready-built factory sheds, built-to-suit units, testing labs, warehousing)
• Social infrastructure (worker housing and support amenities)

Allocation for External Infrastructure: The GoI has decided to allocate a maximum 25% of the project cost for external infrastructure, ensuring seamless connectivity and integration with existing networks.

Cabinet Approves Rs.2584.60 crore ‘SHP Development Scheme’ To Boost Clean Energy Initiatives
In March 2026, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the ‘Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme’ for  a period of 5 years (i.e. from Financial Year 2026-27(FY27) to FY31), with total outlay of Rs.2584.60 crore.

• This newly approved scheme is designed to install SHP projects of an approximate capacity of 1500 MegaWatt (MW) across the country.

About Small Hydro Power Development Scheme:
Implementing Agency: The scheme will be  implemented by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Maximum Energy Capacity: The new scheme will support small hydro projects ranging from 1 to 25 MW capacity to come up in different states.
Financial Support: Under SHP Development scheme,  central financial assistance of Rs 3.6 crore per MW or 30%  of the project cost, whichever is lower with an upper limit of Rs.30 crore per project will be  provided to  the NE states and in districts with international borders.

• For other states, the government will provide financial support of Rs.2.4 crore per MW or 20% of project cost (whichever is lower), capped at Rs.20 crore per project.

CCEA Approves Rs 1,718 Crore MSP Support for Cotton & Rs 6,969 Crore NH-927 Project in UP
In March 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved Minimum Support Price (MSP) funding of Rs 1,718.56 crore for cotton farmers and sanctioned a Rs. 6,969.04 crore National Highway (NH)-927 project in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
About MSP Support for Cotton:
Approval: CCEA approved funding of Rs 1,718.56 crore to the Cotton Corporation of India Limited (CCI) for the 2023–24 cotton season.
Objective: The funding provides price support to farmers when market prices fall below MSP, ensuring income security, preventing distress sales, and stabilising cotton prices.
About NH-927 Project Approval:
Project: CCEA approved a 4-lane access-controlled National Highway 927 (NH-927) from Barabanki to Bahraich (101.515 kilometer, km) in UP.
Cost: Total project cost is Rs. 6,969.04 crore under Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), including Rs. 3,485.49 crore civil cost and Rs. 1,574.85 crore land acquisition cost.

GSI Declares Kalinjar Fort Hill in UP as National Geo-Heritage Site
In March 2026, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) declared the hill area surrounding Kalinjar Fort in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh(UP) as a National Geo-Heritage Site, recognising its unique geological and historical significance.
About Kalinjar Fort Hill:
Inauguration: The site was inaugurated by Rajinder Kumar, Additional Director General(DG) and Head of GSI’s Northern Region.
Geological Significance: The site is home to a rare geological phenomenon known as the Eparchaean Unconformity. This formation represents a massive temporal gap of approximately 1.3 billion years in the Earth’s geological record.

• The hill exposes Bundelkhand granite, which is nearly 2.5 billion years old, directly overlain by Kaimur sandstone, aged approximately 1.2 billion years. This sequence offers critical insights into the crustal evolution of the Vindhya Mountain range.
• Kalinjar Fort is known for temples from the Gupta period, including the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple. 

Metropolis by Reliance MET City Becomes India’s First Project to Get LEED Platinum Pre-Certification
In March 2026, Metropolis, the flagship commercial project of Reliance MET City in Jhajjar(Haryana), became the first project in India to receive, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Pre-Certification under the LEED for Cities: Plan and Design rating system, the highest rating, awarded by Green Business Certification Inc.(GBCI).
About LEED Certification:
Significance: The Platinum pre-certification places the project among globally recognized sustainable urban developments.
Framework: The LEED certification, developed by the United States of America (U.S.A) Green Building Council (USGBC), evaluates sustainability across ecology, transport, energy, water, resources, and quality of life.
Objective: LEED for Cities: Plan and Design (LEED-Cities P&D) integrates sustainability and climate resilience at the planning stage while providing a roadmap for resource efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

MoCA Launches ‘Fare Se Fursat’ Scheme with Rewa–Raipur Inaugural Flight
On 18 March 2026, Union Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister(CM) of Madhya Pradesh (MP), jointly launched the ‘Fare Se Fursat – One Route One Fare’ Scheme with the inauguration of the first Rewa (Madhya Pradesh, MP) – Raipur (Chhattisgarh) flight to promote affordable and predictable air travel.
About Fare Se Fursat Scheme:
Overview: The scheme aims to provide fixed and affordable airfares on select regional routes, allowing passengers to book tickets at a uniform price irrespective of booking time.
Agency: The scheme is implemented by Alliance Air, the government-owned regional carrier, on six selected routes.
Routes: The scheme covers six routes: Delhi–Rewa (MP); Rewa–Raipur (Chhattisgarh); Delhi–Jaipur (Rajasthan); Kolkata (West Bengal, WB)–Guwahati (Assam); Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh, AP)–Rajahmundry (AP) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN)–Hyderabad (Telangana).
Pilot Phase: The scheme was initially launched as a pilot under the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) Scheme from October to December 2025 to assess feasibility and passenger response before its expansion.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Argentina Formally Withdraws from WHO Effective from March 2026
In March 2026, Argentina formally withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO), completing the process one year after notifying the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres, as confirmed by its Foreign Affairs Minister Pablo Quirno.

• The decision to withdraw was announced in February 2025 by Argentina President Javier Milei.

About Argentina’s WHO Withdrawal:
Legal Framework: The withdrawal was carried out under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT), which permits exit after a one-year notice period.
Global Trend: The move reflects a broader shift toward decentralised governance, following the United States of America (USA), which exited the WHO in January 2026.

BANKING & FINANCE

Edelweiss AMC Launches India’s 1st Hybrid Passive Index Fund
In March 2026, Edelweiss Asset Management Company(EAMC) launched India’s 1st hybrid passive index fund named ‘Edelweiss Nifty LargeMidcap250 Plus 8-13 yr G-sec 70:30 Index Fund’, integrating equities and Government-Securities (G-Secs) within a unified index-based structure.

• The New Fund Offer (NFO) will be open for subscription from March 18 to April 01, 2026.

About the Fund:
Automatic Monthly Rebalancing: The New Fund Offer (NFO) uses a rule-based investment strategy, introducing automatic monthly rebalancing to maintain 70:30 equity debt allocation.

• The fund tracks the Nifty LargeMidcap250 Plus 8–13 Year G-Sec 70:30 Index.

Asset Allocation: The major portion of the fund (70%) will be invested in the securities which include the Nifty LargeMidcap250 Plus 8-13 yr G-Sec 70:30 index, while the remaining 30% in G-Secs via Nifty 8-13 year G-Sec Index.
Investment: The minimum fund subscription is available at Rs 100 and in multiples of Re 1 thereafter, and there is exit load.
Managed by: As per EAML, the equity part of the scheme will be managed by Bhavesh Jain and Bharat Lahoti, while Dhawal Dalal and Hetul Raval will administer the debt collection part.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Shipping Corporation of India Signs Contract with Mazagon Dock for Green Methanol Vessel
In March 2026, Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI) signed a shipbuilding contract with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) to build a green methanol dual-fuel vessel, marking a key step towards sustainable shipping.

• It is the first alternative-fuel vessel in SCI’s fleet and India’s first methanol dual-fuel Platform Supply Vessel (PSV).

Key Details of Green Vessel Contract:
Contract: The contract was signed for one vessel and disclosed under Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations(SEBI LODR), 2015.
Vessel: The ship is a PSV with 3,000 Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) used for offshore oil and gas operations.
Technology: Equipped with methanol dual-fuel technology, enabling operation on conventional marine fuel and green methanol to reduce emissions.
Alignment: The project aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) and supports Government of India (GoI) net-zero and green shipping goals.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Former Indian Ambassador Jawed Ashraf Conferred France’s Legion d’honour Rank of ‘Commandeur
On March 18 2026, Jawed Ashraf, former Ambassador of India to France, was conferred France’s Legion of Honour (Commandeur rank) for his contribution to strengthening the India–France Strategic Partnership, becoming the first Indian Ambassador to receive this honour.
About Legion of Honour (Légion d’honneur):
Award Presentation: The award was presented in New Delhi, Delhi, by French Ambassador Thierry Mathou in the presence of National Security Advisor(NSA) Ajit Doval.
Indian Recipients Legion of Honour (Commandeur rank): The Commander rank has been conferred on a limited number of Indians, including: Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (JRD) Tata, Ratan Tata, Amartya Sen, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Satyajit Ray, Syed Haider (S.H.) Raza, Manna Dey.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Grand Cross (highest level) in July 2023.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

HDFC Bank Appoints Keki Mistry as Interim Part-time Chairman after Resignation of Atanu Chakraborty
On 19 March 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Keki Mistry as the interim Part-time Chairman of HDFC Bank Limited for a period of three months with immediate effect.

• This follows the resignation of the bank’s Part-time Chairman and Independent Director, Atanu Chakraborty, who had been serving since May 2021.

About Keki Mistry:
Experience: He has over four decades of experience in housing finance, banking, and financial services.
Career in HDFC: He joined Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC Ltd) in 1981 and held key positions including Executive Director (ED), Managing Director (MD), and later Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Current Role: He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at HDFC Bank Limited.

• He is also the Chairman of HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited and an Independent Operating Advisor at Kedaara Capital.

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

RBI Approves Bain Capital Investment in MFL and its Subsidiaries
In March 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the proposed investment of around Rs 4,385 crore by Bain Capital, along with granting joint management control in Manappuram Finance Limited (MFL) and its subsidiaries: Asirvad Micro Finance Limited (AMFL) and Manappuram Home Finance Limited (MHFL).

• The transaction with Bain Capital includes a mandatory open offer under Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)’s Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers Regulations, 2011, with the capital infusion targeted for completion by March 31, 2026.

Key Details of Acquisition:
Acquirers: Bain Capital will acquire a stake in MFL through its affiliates, BC Asia Investments XXV Limited and BC Asia Investments XIV Limited.
Key Changes:  On the completion of the transaction and depending on the open offer subscription, Bain Capital is expected to hold between 18% and 41.66% stake in MFL on a fully diluted basis, while the existing promoters will hold 28.9% stake, (instead of current 35.25% stake).
Board Reconstitution: Following the deal, Bain Capital will be classified as a promoter and will jointly control MFL along with the existing promoters.

• Additionally, the boards of the company and its subsidiaries will be reconstituted to include nominee directors from Bain Capital, in accordance with the definitive agreements.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Ordnance Factory Day 2026 – March 18
Ordnance Factory Day is observed annually on 18 March across India by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to mark the establishment of India’s first Ordnance Factory at Cossipore near Kolkata, West Bengal(WB), in 1801.
About Indian Ordnance Factories(IOFS):
Structure : The IOFs comprise 41 factories, 9 training institutes, 3 regional marketing centres, and 4 safety controllers under the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Key Role: The IOFs, the oldest and largest defence manufacturing entity, produce arms, ammunition, and equipment for the Armed Forces, along with handling testing, logistics, research, development, and marketing of systems across land, sea, and air.
Reform: In June 2021, the 41 factories were reorganised into seven specialised Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

• The Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination & Services)(DOO(C&S) was set up on 1 October 2021 to oversee coordination and services, replacing the OFB.

Global Recycling Day 2026 – March 18 
Global Recycling Day is observed annually across the globe on 18 March to promote the importance of recycling in conserving natural resources and ensuring environmental sustainability.

• 18th March 2026 marks the 9th observance of the Global Recycling Day.
• 2026 Theme: “Don’t Think Waste – Think Opportunity”

Background:
Origin: Global Recycling Day was established by the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), founded on 18 March 1948, to promote recycling worldwide.

• The idea was introduced by Ranjit Baxi, Founder of the Global Recycling Foundation (GRF), during his 2015 Dubai Convention speech as BIR President.

1st Observance: The first Global Recycling Day was observed on 18 March 2018, marking the 70th anniversary of the BIR.

STATE NEWS

Punjab Government Collaborates with WB to Launch ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0’ School Programme
In March 2026, the Government of Punjab in collaboration with the World Bank (WB) launched ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0’, an ambitious second phase of educational reform, with an investment of Rs 3,500 crore for a period of 6 years.
About Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0:
Fund Sharing: Under this strategic collaboration, WB will provide Rs 2,500 crore as loan assistance and Punjab Government will contribute Rs 1,000 crore.
Focus Areas: The programme outlines 3 main pillars of foundational learning: implementing structured assessments and enhanced pedagogy to ensure basic literacy and numeracy; increasing access to high-demand academic streams and upgrading vocational training.
Digital Portal: The key highlight of the programme is the introduction of a digital Career Guidance portal, to offer personalized guidance and aptitude assessments to help students across the state to make informed academic decisions.

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